Occasional Pieces

Bariloche

$1,299.00

Model OPC32

The Bariloche is a 32" wide bureau with three drawers. The top is Fiddleback Makore starburst with solid edge banding highlighted with the WILLEM SMITH inlay and a graceful solid wood backsplash. The drawer pulls and accents are hand cast bronze.

About WILLEM SMITH Bureaus
In an age of built-ins it is all to easy to overlook the interest that a well built bureau can add to a room. The WILLEM SMITH bureaus have curves and marqueterie to make them interesting but are simple enough that they can adapt to the other styles in the room. However we have paid close attention to the detail and integrity of the functional elements. The drawers and joints...

Bear in mind that WILLEM SMITH’s pricing policy is a bit different that of most of our furniture selling brethren. For all ‘regular’ items, our price is the price. Our furniture is thoroughly thought-through and we put a similar care and rigor in our price setting: we set the fair price the first time. In other words, we don’t discount for the sake of negotiation and we never put regular merchandise on sale. There isn’t oodles of margin for us to be playing with (that earlier bit about fair price setting), but more poignantly, we don’t like the 'I lost' feeling we get when we buy something at full price and three months later there’s a month-long discount on all upholstery.

Having said all that, we do have overstock, inventory bloopers and there’s-an-odd-story-to-this-piece situations where a discounted price is warranted and logical. Peruse them here.

Please ask us for additional information about these items: most of these are at or near our World Headquarters, right across from the Mosaic in Merrifield (Fairfax, VA), so we can provide additional photos and insights. Whether or not the provenance intrigues you, you’ll love the piece.

All of the WILLEM SMITH pieces are meant for a lifetime. Below are some straightforward tips to help you easily preserve the beauty of your collection for years to come.

Enjoy. Host yet another three-hour dinner party in your Brisa chair. Curl up with a long novel in our Francisco. Our uncompromising attention to the construction of each piece assures your WILLEM SMITH collection will endure and endure. Our classic, clean lines and our conscientious provision of the highest quality and most appropriate materials assure your pieces will be simple to maintain.

If you have specific questions on caring for any of your WILLEM SMITH piece, please call us. We would love to hear from you.

Wood

Dust can cast a dull pallor, masking the inherent beauty of our carefully selected woods. Frequent dusting not only allows you to pass the white glove test and recoup the wood’s sheen, it removes airborne pollutants which could scratch wooden surfaces. An ever so slightly dampened, clean, soft cloth is our tool or choice; it effectively removes and traps dust from becoming airborne again. Periodically, to restore the natural luster, polish wooden furniture with a lint-free cloth, working in the direction of the grains as much as possible.

Leather Furniture

We love using leather on our chairs. Nothing sits and swaddles like a well designed and built club chair in a great leather. And properly maintained, leather will last – and look terrific - four times as long as fabric.

Caring for leather is straightforward. Note that many people don’t use any products on their leather: if it isn’t drying out, it’s happy.

Rules 1-10 are to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and to direct heat.

Regular vacuuming (yes, vacuuming) is a simple and effective method to keep the surface clean.

For most leathers it is safe to occasionally wipe your leather with a clean, damp cloth followed by a dry cloth.

Blot (don’t rub or scrub) any spills immediately.

Condition, but no more than once a year.*

*For many of our leathers we recommend a gentle widely-available leather conditioner such as Lexol. It is easily applied with a sponge followed by wiping any excess with a dry cloth a few minutes later. For a full aniline or nubuck leather only use cleaners and conditioners specifically formulated for those leathers. Note that some conditioners may slightly darken a leather’s appearance, so please test any conditioner on an inconspicuous area first.

And finally, bear in mind that over time and with use your leather will develop a unique and welcoming patina, giving it a distinctive appearance and further softening as it ages. Much like all of us.

Fabric

WILLEM SMITH fabrics are selected not only for their beauty but also taking into consideration the practicality of using your pieces yet keeping them beautiful. Naturally, wipe up any spills and spots as soon as you see them. Using the small attachment for your vacuum cleaner you can quickly keep your upholstered furniture clean and dust free. A steam cleaner can help provide a periodic, deeper clean. As with all valuable pieces of furniture and antiques, avoid placing them in direct sunlight or within two feet of heat sources. Sun and heat can dry out wood and finishes, crack leather and fade upholstered fabric. Of course, water can also damage wood, leather and fabric surfaces. If you have a spill, dry the area thoroughly and promptly. All-purpose cleaning sprays are not appropriate for WILLEM SMITH or other fine furniture.

WILLEM SMITH Leather

We are committed to offering industry-leading quality and selection at a surprising value. Chosen for their consistency, luxurious hand and, importantly, value, WILLEM SMITH leathers have been aniline dyed, and most have received a light topcoat for depth of color and protection against the realities of life.

Certain series have a more pronounced grain while others may be typically smoother, have a glossier finish or even, hold onto your socks, appear to have a sparkly iridescence. Some of our favorites exhibit a degree of what is referred to as a pull-up burst; these wonderful hides celebrate the character marks that make each piece of furniture undeniably unique. Choose your favorite colors, and then contact us to learn about the distinctive characteristics of each collection.

How Not To Get Stuck

You’ve no doubt already measured the space where you will put the piece and compared it to the dimensions on our pages about each product. Now let's make sure you can get it there.

The Pathway to Its Intended Destination

Entryways: height and width of all areas. Take into consideration the space that the door takes up. Are there any fixtures in the way?

Entry Clearance: the distance from the wall, through the doorway to the opposite wall.

Twists and Turns: consider ceiling height (if you need to stand the sofa), lights, fans or other ceiling fixtures, banisters.

Other Considerations

Before delivery, remove any frames or artwork from walls to avoid bumps and scratches.

Remove any potential obstacles between the door and your furniture’s final placement—plants, chairs, accent tables, etc.

Please confine pets to ensure they won’t be underfoot or escape out open doors.

If you live in a building with an elevator, measure the height of the door, as well as the inside space to ensure it’s big enough for your furniture to travel in.

Cut out a cardboard template in the size of the new furniture or using masking tape mark off the area on your floor to help you envision how it will fit in your room.

Brisa Three-Hour Dinner Party Chair Differences:

The Brisa Chair. The go-to Brisa. 40” high with a gap between the seat and the back (the technical term for this feature is “crumb chute”).

The Brisa Cerrada Chair. Identical to the Brisa except for the absence of the crumb chute: this Brisa’s back is “closed”.

The Brisa Baja. Identical to the Brisa except the overall height is 36”.

The Brisa BajaCerrada. Identical to the Brisa Cerrada (closed back) except the overall height is 36”.

Remember that each Brisa version is available with wood arms that are just the right height. They extend a perfect length to support your forearms but not so far that they bump your table’s apron.

We love using leather on our chairs. Nothing sits and swaddles like a well designed and built club chair in a great leather. And properly maintained, leather will last – and look terrific - four times as long as fabric.

Caring for leather is straightforward. Note that many people don’t use any products on their leather: if it isn’t drying out, it’s happy.

Rules 1-10 are to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and to direct heat.

Regular vacuuming (yes, vacuuming) is a simple and effective method to keep the surface clean.

For most leathers it is safe to occasionally wipe your leather with a clean, damp cloth followed by a dry cloth.

Blot (don’t rub or scrub) any spills immediately.

Condition, but no more than once a year.*

*For many of our leathers we recommend a gentle widely-available leather conditioner such as Lexol. It is easily applied with a sponge followed by wiping any excess with a dry cloth a few minutes later. For a full aniline or nubuck leather only use cleaners and conditioners specifically formulated for those leathers. Note that some conditioners may slightly darken a leather’s appearance, so please test any conditioner on an inconspicuous area first.

And finally, bear in mind that over time and with use your leather will develop a unique and welcoming patina, giving it a distinctive appearance and further softening as it ages. Much like all of us.